1950 hrs June 13th 2004

Just spent the weekend in Batam, Indonesia

The sea

It never fails to lift my spirits

The wind in my hair

The sun on my face

The undulating sea extends to the distant horizon

The light shimmers across the wavelets

We sailed past Sentosa island

I suddenly recalled my last birthday

The woody smell of the suite room at Beaufort

Seafood dinner at Shangrila

Twosome massage at Spa Botanica

Making love in our private jacuzzi

as peacocks gawked

I remembered her smile

and thanking God for Life

thanking God for her.

I smiled again as the salty sea breeze caresses my face

Onward to Batam

Meeting Mr D and Ms L

Gorged at Ms X's favourite stall

Indonesian bakso, bebek and ayam goreng

I recalled how pleased she was

eating the favourite food of her childhood

How pleased I was

at seeing her contentment

Her happiness meant everything to me

Meeting Mr D shook me out of my self-indulgence

He is jobless and broke again

Worried again about providing for his sons

And for Ms L

I offered to help

if he needs cash to tie over

He did not answer

Knowing him

We sat silently watching football

Portugal deserved to lose

The Greeks made up for their lack of flamboyance

with meticulous discipline

covered all angles

Portugal did not have a chance

There must be a lesson to be learnt in Life

Just watching football

I come home

determined again

to make it work

to court her all over again

Maybe it's a battle I just can't win

just maybe

Stranger things have happened

Like Greece beating Portugal